Angelonia plant named ‘SAIANG003’

ABSTRACT

An Angelonia plant particularly distinguished by having reddish-purple flowers, strong stems, and an upright plant habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Angelonia angustifolia.

Variety denomination: ‘SAIANG003’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Angelonia plant botanically known as Angelonia angustifolia and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘SAIANG003’. The new cultivar originated from a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during July 2017. The objective of the breeding program was to develop Angelonia cultivars having strong stems, a rose flower color, and an upright plant habit.

The new Angelonia cultivar is the result of cross-pollination between the female (seed) parent, the proprietary Angelonia angustifolia breeding selection ‘ANG-07161-01’ (unpatented), characterized by its medium-purple colored flowers, medium-green colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit, and the male (pollen) parent, the proprietary Angelonia angustifolia breeding selection ‘ANG-07159-02’ (unpatented), characterized by its dark-fuchsia colored flowers, medium-green colored foliage, and moderately-vigorous, upright growth habit. The new cultivar was selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during May 2018 in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

‘SAIANG003’ has been asexually reproduced since May 2018 by terminal stem cuttings in Arroyo Grande, Calif. The breeder has confirmed that ‘SAIANG003’ reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation via terminal stem cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Salinas, Calif.

-   -   1. Reddish-purple flowers;     -   2. Strong stems; and     -   3. An upright plant habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This Angelonia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, and flowers. The photographs are of a plant 4.75-months from transplant into quart pots from rooted cuttings in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit of the plant grown in a pot.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the mature flower of the plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following traits and characteristics describe the new variety. Data obtained from plants grown 4.75-months from transplant into quart pots from rooted cuttings in Salinas, Calif., under greenhouse conditions. Color references are to The Royal Horticultural Society of London color chart (R.H.S.), 6^(th) edition (2015). Anatomic labels are from The Cambridge Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms, by M. Hickey and C. King, Cambridge University Press.

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Plantaginaceae.         -   Botanical.—Angelonia angustifolia.         -   Common.—Angelonia; summer snapdragon.         -   Designation.—‘SAIANG003’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female.—The proprietary ‘ANG-07161-01’ (unpatented).         -   Male.—The proprietary ‘ANG-07159-02’ (unpatented). -   Growth: The terminal 1.0 to 1.5 inches of an actively growing stem     was excised. The vegetative cuttings were propagated in five to six     weeks. The base of the cuttings was dipped for 1 to 2 seconds in a     1:9 solution of DIP 'N GROW (1 solution: 9 water) root inducing     solution immediately prior to sticking into the cell trays. Cuttings     were stuck into plastic cell trays having 98 cells, and containing a     moistened peat moss-based growing medium. The cuttings were misted     with water from overhead for 10 seconds every 30 minutes until     sufficient roots were formed. Rooted cuttings were transplanted and     grown in plastic pots in a glass greenhouse located in Salinas,     Calif. Pots contained a peat moss-based growing medium. Soluble     fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 20% potassium     was applied once a day or every other day by overhead irrigation.     Pots were top-dressed with a dry, slow-release fertilizer containing     20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 18% potassium. The typical average     air temperature was 24 degrees Celsius. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Cutting; terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 9 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 28 to 35             days.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 5 to 8 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10-cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Upright.         -   Height from soil level to top of plant plane.—Approximately             35.0 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 20.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching.         -   Quantity of main branches per plant.—Approximately 3 (2             smaller and 1 larger). -   Branch:     -   -   Shape.—Square in cross section.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Length.—Approximately 7.0 mm from the soil line to first             node and 17.0 cm from soil to start of inflorescences.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 6.0 mm.         -   Length of central internode.—Approximately 7.0 mm.         -   Texture.—Very slightly pubescent, RHS NN155D (White).         -   Color of young and mature stems.—Closest to RHS 143C (Strong             Yellowish Green). -   Leaves:     -   -   Quantity of leaves per main branch.—Approximately 5 to 10             leaves prior to main branch splitting off.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Form.—Simple.         -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Aspect.—Perpendicular or obtuse to the stem.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Venation color.—Upper and lower surfaces: RHS 145C (Light             Yellow Green) midvein.         -   Length of mature leaf.—Approximately 7.0 cm.         -   Width of mature leaf.—Approximately 1.6 cm.         -   Texture of upper and lower surfaces.—Very slight pubescence,             RHS NN155D (White).         -   Color of young foliage.—Upper surface: Closest to but more             yellow than RHS NN137B (Greyish Olive Green). Lower surface:             Closest to RHS 147B (Moderate Yellow Green) with RHS 147D             (Moderate Yellow Green) spots and an RHS 145C (Light Yellow             Green) midvein.         -   Color of mature foliage.—Upper surface: Closest to but more             yellow than RHS NN137B (Greyish Olive Green). Lower surface:             Closest to RHS 147B (Moderate Yellow Green) with RHS 147D             (Moderate Yellow Green) spots and an RHS 145C (Light Yellow             Green) midvein. The number of spots increase as the leaves             age. -   Flowers:     -   -   Description.—Solitary, zygomorphic.         -   Type.—Terminal raceme.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering under outdoor growing             conditions with substantially continuous blooming from             spring through Autumn and year-round in a greenhouse             environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             7 to 10 days.         -   Quantity per plant.—Approximately 22.         -   Quantity of fully open flowers per             inflorescence.—Approximately 6 to 10.         -   Fragrance.—Floral, crisp.         -   Length.—8.0 cm to 15.0 cm.         -   Width.—3.5 cm to 4.0 cm.         -   Pedicel.—Strength: Flexible. Aspect: Acute angle or             perpendicular to stem. Length: Approximately 1.5 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color:             RHS 144A (Strong Yellow Green) with RHS 146A (Moderate Olive             Green) throughout. -   Bud:     -   -   Rate of opening.—Generally, takes 3 to 4 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Quantity per inflorescence.—Between 10 to 20 depending on             inflorescence size of varying stages.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Globular. Length:             Approximately 9.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 7.0 mm. Color:             Upper surface: RHS 70B (Strong Reddish Purple) fading to RHS             75D (Very Pale Purple) with RHS N77A (Greyish Purple) spots.             Lower surface: Slight RHS 144C (Strong Yellow Green) with a             background of lighter than RHS 75D (Very Pale Purple) with             spots of RHS N77A (Greyish Purple). -   Corolla:     -   -   Shape.—Bilabiate.         -   Aspect.—Facing outward.         -   Length.—Approximately 2.7 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 2.4 cm.         -   Depth.—Approximately 4.5 mm. -   Petals:     -   -   Quantity.—5, petals are fused at base forming a throat and             consisting of an upper lip with 2 petals and a lower lip             with 3 petals, consisting of 2 lateral petals and one             central petal.         -   Shape.—Obovate.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Margin.—Entire but slightly erose and slightly wavy.         -   Upper lip.—Length of petals from throat: Approximately             8.0 mm. Width of each petal: Approximately 1.5 cm. Texture             of both the upper and lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent,             short hairs. Gland color: Colorless; transparent. Color of             both the upper and lower surfaces when fully open: RHS 72B             (Strong Reddish Purple).         -   Lower lip, lateral petals.—Length of petals from throat:             Approximately 8.0 mm. Width of each petal: Approximately             12.0 mm. Texture of both upper and lower surfaces: Slightly             pubescent, short hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Color of both the upper and lower surfaces when fully open:             RHS 72B (Strong Reddish Purple).         -   Lower lip, central petal.—Length from the palate:             Approximately 8.0 mm. Width: Approximately 11.0 mm. Texture             of both of the upper and lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent.             Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of both the upper             and lower surfaces when fully open: RHS 72B (Strong Reddish             Purple).         -   Throat.—Length: Approximately 11.0 mm. Width: Approximately             8.0 mm. Texture of inner and outer surfaces: Glabrous. Color             of inner surface: Closest to RHS N155B (Pinkish White) with             RHS 200A (Dark Greyish Reddish Brown) spots. Color of outer             surface: Closest to RHS N155B (Pinkish White) and RHS N187A             (Dark Greyish Reddish Brown) spots. Palate color: RHS 149A             (Brilliant Yellow Green). Palate texture: Sparsely             pubescent. Teeth color: RHS 145C (Light Yellow Green). -   Calyx:     -   -   Shape.—Star, cupped.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 6.0 mm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused. Shape: Lanceolate.             Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Width:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of both the upper and lower             surfaces: Glabrous. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Color of upper surface: Slightly darker than RHS 143A             (Strong Yellow Green) with slight anthocyanin of N187A (Dark             Purplish Red). Color of lower surface: Slightly darker than             RHS 143A (Strong Yellow Green). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamen quantity: 4 per flower. Filament length:             Approximately 5.0 mm. Filament texture: Glabrous. Gland             color: Colorless, transparent. Filament color: Slightly             transparent; RHS NN155D (White). Anther shape: Bi-lobed.             Anther length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color: RHS N187A             (Dark Purplish Grey). Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color:             RHS 11C (Pale Yellow).         -   Gynoecium.—Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length:             Approximately 3.5 mm. Stigma shape: Globular. Stigma length:             Approximately 1.5 mm. Stigma color: RHS N144C (Strong Yellow             Green). Style length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Style color: RHS             NN155D (White). Ovary diameter: Approximately 1.5 mm. Ovary             texture: Glabrous. Ovary color: RHS N144C (Strong Yellow             Green). -   Seed: Not observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

When ‘SAIANG003’ is compared to both parental lines, the following differences can be found, as listed in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Parent Male Parent Characteristic ‘SAIANG003’ ‘ANG-07161-01’ ‘ANG-07159-02’ Flower color Reddish Purple Medium Purple Dark Fuchsia Flower size Larger flowers Smaller flowers than Smaller flowers than both female ‘SAIANG003’ than and male parents ‘SAIANG003’ Quantity of More flowers per Less flowers per Less flowers per flowers per plant than both plant than plant than plant female and male ‘SAIANG003’ ‘SAIANG003’ parents

When ‘SAIANG003’ is compared to the commercial comparison ‘Balarcaspim’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,287), the following differences can be found, as listed in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Commercial Variety Characteristic ‘SAIANG003’ ‘Balarcaspim’ Color of mature Closest to RHS 143C RHS 144B stems (Strong Yellowish Green) (Strong Yellowish Green) Corolla depth Approximately 4.5 mm Approximately 7.0 mm Throat, color of Closest to RHS RHS 145B (Light inner surface N15513 (Pinkish Yellowish Green) White) with spots and RHS 77D of RHS 200A (Light Purple) (Dark Greyish with spots of RHS Reddish Brown) N79A 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Angelonia plant named ‘SAIANG003’ as described and illustrated herein. 